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The doorbell rang and we both looked through the glass walls.
“I’ll get it.” Andrei pulled his gun out from his back pocket and went for the door. I watched as he opened the door, gave the delivery man some cash from his wallet, and collected our orders.
He walked in with our breakfast and I dived for the plastic bag. There were at least twelve cans of soda in it. “Why did you buy so much?” I asked, taking out a can and opening it.
“You said you wanted soda.”
I gulped down the drink and allow the coldness to sizzle down my throat. God, my sugar cravings.
Andrei opened the box while I took out a can of soda for him. I couldn’t believe it. I’d despised Andrei so much two months ago. Now, I was digging into breakfast with him.
We almost looked like a normal family. We almost looked like two normal people out to spend some time together. Almost.
But we weren’t. I made sure to remind myself of that even though I’d seemed to forget it a lot recently. Andrei was my captor, and I had to kill him after I got what I wanted. My heart slowed down just to think of it.
And we’d just passed a hallway of dead men last night. I didn’t know how normal people lived but I was certain that wasn’t part of it.
A knot tightened in my stomach, and it was hard swallowing the oatmeal in my mouth.
When the day I’d have to kill Andrei finally came, I wasn’t certain how I’d do it. I wasn’t even sure I could look into his eyes as the life drained from them as I’d wanted to. I wasn’t even sure I could do it anymore.
“Still thinking of how to kill me?” he asked, and I fidgeted. “Give it up, you’ll never come close to it.”
There went his pride. “Beg me and I may make it less painful,” I said, willing myself not to let Andrei think I was already wavering. He needed to be on his toes around me. He would be safer that way.
“What do you think Dante’s first step will be when he finds out I took you?” he asked.
“My papa is a proud man so being logical wouldn’t be his first move.” I gave it a brief thought. “He’d gather as many men as he could and attack you.”
Andrei nodded. “I guessed right then.”
“What would you do if you were in his place?”
Andrei looked at me as if a part of him knew I could betray him with whatever information I was getting from him. He was probably right to.
“I’d do the same,” he said. “Like you said, men like us are the same. We have egos too large for our own good. What would you do?”
I choked on my soda and started coughing, hitting my chest. “That was unexpected since I’ve never had to do any thinking.” I put the soda can on the table. “I’m not much different either, but I’m calculative. That’s how I survived. I’d slowly hit my opponents where it hurts the most, trapping them till they have nowhere to escape to. Then I’d shred them into pieces ‘til there’s nothing left.”
“Smarter than me and the other men.”
We ate the rest of our breakfast quietly and tidied the living area before I dragged Andrei outside. He was reluctant but finally gave in since he thought we’d be safer together.
The sun was shiny and bright and the water flowed noiselessly to the shore and back. The sun glinted on the surfaces as the beach water competed with the sky for its blueness. There was a soft breeze, one that carried peace with it.
All my life, I’d never had a better moment than this. A moment where I could watch nature without many worries on my mind. And it was even better because I had Andrei beside me.
Whatever happens between us in the future, I was more than glad he could feel the serenity with me. This once at least.
My hand moved slowly until it hit his, and he opened it, allowing me to hold his. I wished we could have this moment forever. Only then could both of us run away from the rest of the world and away from the dark underworld.
“Malysh,” Andrei called my name quietly. I tilted my head to him and our gazes locked. “If there ever comes a day where you’d have to kill me, don’t hold back. I won’t hold back either.”
He tucked a lock of hair away from my face and cupped my chin. “Aim for my heart and never look back.”
“I won’t,” I said. “I’ll make sure to hit you right where it hurts the most.” And I had a feeling I would break afterward, but I had no idea why.
He smiled at me and his eyes sparkled in the sunlight. “Good girl.” He leaned in and our lips brushed each other’s slightly before his consumed mine. He kissed me softly, passionately, and I wrapped my hands around his neck.
